Chapter 24: Completing the boss
Isaac planted his feet firmly on the dusty ground, his gaze trained on the black stone colossus as it advanced inexorably towards him. The boss's every step made the ground vibrate, sounding like the death knell of a doomed destiny. His obsidian stone skin glowed ominously under the flickering torches of the dungeon, dimly reflecting the impending chaos.
Around him, his companions panted, exhausted by their fierce battle with the previous golems. Erik's arm was bloodied, Jonah was still staggering, half stunned by the previous blow he'd taken, and Malia was struggling to catch her breath, her chest heaving frantically with exhaustion.
But Isaac had never been so focused.
The recent transformation of his body had left an invisible mark, a burning thirst that he felt right down to his gut. His strengthened muscles vibrated beneath his skin, clamoring for battle, demanding to test their new limits. But there was something else too-a darker, more vicious sensation. An impulse from deep inside him, urging him to advance into danger rather than retreat.
He tightened his grip on the katana. His fingers embraced the worn guard perfectly, as if the weapon were now a natural extension of his body. His gaze, hard and sharp, never left the boss's glowing eye sockets.
A dull roar sounded, and without warning, the boss suddenly charged.
Despite its titanic mass, the monster sped across the room like a runaway train at full speed. Isaac felt his heart miss a beat under the initial shock, but he forced himself to remain motionless, his legs planted firmly in the ground.
The boss's fist, as big as a block of granite, split the air in his direction with inhuman force. Isaac immediately activated [Black Stone Body] at full power. His skin darkened instantly, covered in a dense, protective layer that seemed to absorb all surrounding light.
BAM!
The blow hit him full force. Isaac took the full impact, his whole body reverberating under the monstrous shock. His legs buckled slightly, his feet sliding backwards several centimetres. A trickle of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he felt intense pain shoot through his body, but miraculously, he was still standing.
Erik's eyes widened in astonishment.